Australian businesses eye opportunities at Canton Fair

For Australian entrepreneur Andrew Coates, one of the most important business trips he made was the one to China's Canton Fair earlier this year.

Coates, who is the purchasing director of e-commerce company iMerchants, attended the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province, in May.

Also known as the Canton Fair, it is the largest and oldest trade expo of its kind, dating back to 1957.

"All of us have tried to manufacture and procure products from China. (You need) hours online finding supplies; quality is impossible to determine if you're not face-to-face; reordering is very slow via email; I've no relationship with the supplier," said Coates, who has been in the industry for two decades.

"One way to fix all of those problems is to head to the Canton Fair," he said. "You get access to thousands and thousands of manufacturers and suppliers."

The fair's 137th edition, which ran from April to May, attracted overseas buyers from 229 countries and regions, according to the organizers, with a record 289,000 onsite attendees and 527,000 overseas buyers taking part online.

Speaking at an industry event in Sydney on Tuesday for the upcoming 138th Canton Fair from October to November, Coates said he is already looking forward to the "instant connections to be made", leading about 50 new buyers from Australia, Europe and other areas to Guangzhou.

Su Bin, deputy director general of the China Foreign Trade Center, a government-sponsored institution affiliated with the Chinese Commerce Ministry, hosting the event, said the fair reflects China's commitment to further opening-up, supported by its comprehensive industrial system, robust manufacturing sector and resilient supply chains.

The fair has proved its strong appeal as a major platform for global trade cooperation, playing an indispensable role in facilitating international trade, stabilizing supply chains and driving global economic growth, Su said.

Zhu Haining, consul of the economic and commercial office at the Chinese Consulate General in Sydney, said the Canton Fair is seen as a barometer of China's foreign trade and a "golden calling card" for China's firm commitment to opening-up.

"China is willing to work together with all countries, including Australia, to follow the prevailing trend of economic globalization to share opportunities in cooperation and promote development," he said.

Chen Jianyu, general manager of the Sydney branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, which supported the event on Tuesday, said the fair is not only a window into the Chinese market but also "a great way for global enterprises to explore new opportunities in China".

"Economic ties between China and Australia continue to thrive," he said. "We're pleased to see more and more Australian businesses eager to strengthen their presence in the Chinese market."

Pan White, executive director of the China Australia Trade and Investment Council, a nonprofit organization facilitating business opportunities, said the Canton Fair provides an important range of services to international buyers.

"This is a platform that allows you to find really trustworthy suppliers, export opportunities and stay ahead of the game," she said, adding that the council is organizing regular trade missions to the Canton Fair.

Contact the writers at xinxin@chinadaily.com.cn